Pneumatic sheet feeding platen and supply magazine



w. v. SHEARER ET AL 3,330,555

PNEUMATIC SHEET FEEDING PLATEN AND SUPPLY MAGAZINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 July11, 1967 Original Filed April 24, 1962 .mwswhk (N E: m- Q a mm 5R. NEY

INVENTORS WALTER V. SI-IEHRER WILLIAM R. BECKHTR. BY ARNOLD M. WHEELOCKATT'GR July 11, 1967 w, v SHEARER ET AL 3,330,555

PNEUMATIC SHEET FEEDING PLATEN AND SUPPLY MAGAZINE Original Filed April24, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGURE 2 ENTORS.

lNV WALTER V. SHEHRER w/LuflM R. BECK J BYFIRNOLD M. wflsaog SR. ms R 3AW mm/QNEY July 11, 1967 w v SHEARER ET AL 3,330,555

PNEUMATIC SHEET FEEDING PLATEN AND SUPPLY MAGAZINE Original Filed April24, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGURE 3 INVENTORS WALTER v. SHEARER WILLIHMA. BECK,J'R. BYARNOLD M. WHEELOCK,$R.

ATTORNEY y 1, 1967 w. v. SHEARER ET AL 3,330,555

PNEUMATIC SHEET FEEDING PLATEIN AND SUPPLY MAGAZINE Original Filed April24, 1962 I 6 Sheets$heet 4 FIGURE 4- I NVENTORS WAI. TER V. Sl/EARERWILLIAM A. EEC/(1J8.

BY ARN M. WHEELOCK, s2.

03- Anna,

ATTORNEY 0% July 11, 1967 w v SHEARER ET AL 3,330,555

PNEUMATIC SHEET FEEDING PLATEN AND SUPPLY MAGAZINE Original Filed April24, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGURE 5' INVENTORS. mum? u swarm? WILLIHM R-BECK J R.

am/ow M. wHEELcK 5g MQMA 9a.

ATTORNEY July 11, 1967 w. v. SHEARER ET AL 3,330,555

PNEUMATIC SHEET FEEDING PLATEN AND SUPPLY MAGAZINE Original Filed April24, 1 962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 /'/OO A al FIGURE 6 INVENTORS wnu'm v.SHERREIZ WILLIRM R- BECK, JR.

BY nmvow M. was-smug SR.

6%; mug,

HTTURNEV United States Patent f 3,330,555 PNEUMATIC SHEET FEEDING PLATENAND SUPPLY MAGAZINE Walter V. Shearer, Longmeadow, William R. Beck, Jr.,Wilbraham, and Arnold M. Wheelock, Sr., Southwick, Mass, assignors toThe Plastic Coating Corporation Original application Apr. 24, 1962, Ser.No. 189,758, new Patent No. 3,180,239, dated Apr. 27, 1965. Divided andthis application Dec. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 420,721

11 Claims. (Cl. 271-30) This application is a division of our copendingapplication Ser. No. 189,758, filed Apr. 24, 1962, and now U.S. PatentNo. 3,180,239.

This invention relates to pneumatic sheet feeding apparatus, and moreparticularly to apparatus which is adapted to form a component part ofthe apparatus for the reproduction of copy. This apparatus has beendeveloped for use in equipment for the photoelectrostatic reproductionof copy. However, it is also well adapted for use in equipment adaptedfor the reproduction of copies by other methods.

The apparatus in accordance with this invention comprises in combinationa vacuum platen, a means for moving the vacuum platen in a horizontalplane and a copy sheet supply magazine which is adapted to deliver asheet of copy paper to the lower surface of the vacuum platen, while thevacuum platen is in its initial position of rest. The transport meansassociated with the vacuum platen rotates the vacuum platen through anangle of ninety degree to place its lower surface in a vertical plane,facing away from the transport means, thereby placing a sheet carried onthe lower surface in a vertical optical image plane of the reproductionapparatus.

The vacuum platen pauses to retain a copy sheet in the vertical opticalimage plane for a predetermined interval of time to permit the exposureof the surface of the copy sheet to an optical image. After this pause,the vacuum platen is returned to a position approximating its originalposition, but laterally displaced therefrom by a short distance whichplaces the edge of the copy sheet which it carries to be picked up .by aconveyor to be carried through a series of processing steps to developthe image carried by its surfaces.

When in use in reproduction equipment, the copy supply magazine, thevacuum platen and its transport mechanism are enclosed in a light-tightcompartment which protects the copy sheet from all light other than thatof the optical image to which the sheets are exposed when in thevertical optical image plane.

In the use of this apparatus, the magazine is loaded with a stack ofcopy sheets with the side of each sheet which is to receive an imagefacing downwardly and after being picked up by the vacuum platen iscarried with that side facing downwardly. When the vacuum platen pausesafter placing the sheet in the vertical optical image plane, the side ofthe sheet which is to receive an image faces outwardly away from theplaten.

In apparatus which reproduces copy by a photoelectrostatic process, anelectrical corona discharge unit is located below and at right angles tothe line of horizontal travel of the vacuum platen in a position betweenthe copy supply magazine and the position in which the vacuum platenbegins its rotation. The corona discharge unit is adapted to direct acorona discharge upwardly as the copy sheet passes above it. Thisimposition of an electrostatic charge on the photoelectrostatic coatingof the copy sheet renders it sensitive to light and capable of receivinga latent electrostatic image when exposed to an optical image in thevertical optical image plane.

. The magazine in which a supply of copy sheets is main- Patented July11, 1967 tained during the operation of this apparatus consists of ahorizontal plate provided with brackets to keep the edges of a stack ofthe sheets in vertical alignment which is, in effect, an open-top tray,and a mechanism which is adapted to raise the plate to bring the topsheet of the stack into contact with the vacuum platen of the apparatus,when the platen is in its initial position, and then lower the plate toits own initial position. The bracket on this horizontal tray adjacentthe end of the conveyor system of the apparatus, is made of anelectrically-insulated material to avoid the possibility of ashort-circuit when a photoelectrostatic sheet is removed from the vacuumplaten by the conveyor system.

As noted above, the copy sheets are placed in this magazine with thecoating which is to receive a copy facing downwardly. The mechanism forraising and lowering the magazine consists of a pair of toggle arms oneach side of the plate, one of which is connected to the piston of anair cylinder which is supplied with compressed air from the pressureside of a vacuum pump, the vacuum side of which is connected to thevacuum platen. The air pressure raises the magazine until it is stoppedby the top of the stack of sheets it carries and comes into forcefulcontact with the vacuum platen. The upwardly movement of the magazine isautomatically timed by an automatic electrical control system by theoperation of a solenoid valve in the compressed air line. An automaticelectrical control system which is well adapted for the operation ofthis apparatus is disclosed by our copending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 189,- 758, filed Apr. 24, 1962, now U.S. Patent No. 3,180,239.

At the time that the upwardly movement of the magazine is started,vacuum is applied to the vacuum platen by a tube from the vacuum pump tothe platen. The vacuum platen picks the top sheet from the magazine.This establishes a vacuum in the vacuum line, due to the sheet sealingthe vacuum platen. The solenoid valve is then signaled by apressure-sensitive switch in the vacuum line that a sheet has beenpicked up and the solenoid then releases the pressure to the magazineair cylinder, permitting the magazine to drop under its own weight toits initial position of rest.

The use of compressed air for raising the magazine is an advantageousfeature of this apparatus, since it automatically compensates for theprogressive reduction in the height of the stack of photoelectrostaticsheets carried by the magazine as the sheets are successively removedtherefrom by the action of the vacuum platen, and for the suddenincrease in the height of the stack when the magazine is restocked witha supply of the photoelectrostatic sheets. Further, it eliminates theneed for a hand toggle manipulated by the operator and, hence, is fullyautomatic in its operation.

The dual use of the vacuum pump of this apparatus to provide the vacuumrequired for the operation of the vacuum platen, and the compressed airrequired for the operation of the compressed air cylinder of themagazine is also an advantageous feature of this apparatus in that itsimplifies the apparatus by eliminating the necessity of two separatepumps, one a vacuum pump and the other a compressed air pump.

This copy supply magazine and the vacuum platen provide an advantageousfeature of this apparatus arising from the fact that the magazine mustdeliver a sheet to the vacuum platen, which effectively seals the vacuumplaten, before the vacuum platen can proceed with its cycle ofoperation. When the supply of sheets in the magazine is exhausted and novacuum is produced in the vacuum platen, the solenoid switch does notreceive the signal which is pre-requisite to the movement of the vacuumplaten by its transport system, as described hereinafter. Furthermore,the suction of air through the orifices in the face of the vacuum platencreates an audible sound, which informs the operator of the apparatus asto the reason for the failure of the apparatus to automatically continueits sequence of operations.

The horizontal plate of this magazine which carries the stack of copysheets can be withdrawn from its lighttight enclosure on carrier rails,into a position at which the supply of copy sheets thereon can beconveniently replenished. This carrier plate must be returned to itsoperating position and accurately repositioned therein, before theelectrical system can start the automatic cycle of the operations of theapparatus. This provision for the convenient replenishment of the supplyof copy sheets is an advantageous, time-saving feature of the apparatus.

The vacuum platen of this apparatus is smaller in at least one dimensionthan the photoelectrostatic copy sheets with which it is used. It may,for example, be approximately two inches smaller in each dimension ofits surface than the sheet which the apparatus is designed to utilize.In its 'mitial position, it is centered over the position to which thesheet magazine is raised to permit the platen to pick up a sheet of copypaper, so that the edges of the sheet on the platen extend beyond theedges of the platen the same distance along at last two opposite edges.

This feature of the apparatus is important in the operation of theapparatus at two different points. It permits the sides of the magazineto clear the edges of the platen as it is raised to permit the platen topick up a. copy sheet. Further, as will be described hereinafter indetail, it permits the conveyor system to pick the sheet off for thesequence of process steps necessary to develop the image on its surface.Further, it allows the stack to be mechanically rifiled as the magazinedrops away from the platen, thus insuring a single sheet pick-up. Statedin another way, it permits the mechanical riffiing of the edge of thestack to avoid a multiple pick-up of sheets by the platen, which canotherwise occur due to an accumulation of static electricity in thestack which causes the sheets to cling together.

The vacuum platen is attached by a flexible hose to the vacuum side of avacuum pump, and is mounted on a shaft which is carried by journalsattached to a carrier plate which forms a part of the transportmechanism. The shaft on which the platen is mounted can both rotate andslide laterally in these journals. One end of this shaft carries a gear,and the other end is loaded by a spring which has its tension directedto retain the platen in its normal position with respect to the carrierplate.

The carrier plate is carried on one side by journals on a horizontalcarrier rod, which permits the carriage to be slid from its initialposition over the magazine to a position in which the platen is rotatedto place the surface of the copy sheet in the image plane of theapparatus, while accurately maintaining the predetermined line of travelof the carrier plate. The other side of the carrier plate is carried bya roller, which travels along the upper surface of a second horizontalcarrier rod which parallels the first rod. Alternatively, this carrierplate may be carried by a pair of journals on each side which are,respectively, mounted to slide on parallel rods.

Two sprockets, carrying a sprocket chain which is preferably of theroller type, are located above the line of travel of the platencarriage. These sprockets are spaced apart along a line parallel to thehorizontal carrier rods a distance determined by the length of thetravel of the carrier plate. One of the sprockets is driven through areduction gear by an electric motor, while the other sprocket is merelyan idler. A cross-slide carrying a pawl is located on the top of thecarriage. The pawl is attached to the sprocket chain and, as the chainmoves, causes the carriage to slide along its carrier rods inreciprocating travel, while the pawl slides laterally back-and-forth inits slide.

The ends of the horizontal carrier rods near the image plane of theapparatus are held by a plate which also carries a short rack, locatedto engage the gear at the end of the shaft which carries the vacuumplaten. When this gear engages this rack, as the vacuum platen is movedtoward the optical image plane of the apparatus, the vacuum platen isrotated through a ninety-degree angle to position the surface of a sheetwhich it carries in the vertical optical image plane.

This vacuum plate transport mechanism is provided with a second electricmotor which operates a cam which is in contact with one end of a shiftarm, which is pivoted and spring-loaded at its opposite end to keep itbearing on the cam. The cam is timed to move the free end of the shiftarm outwardly at an angle to the direction of travel of the platencarriage, as the platen carriage is returned to its position over themagazine. The vacuum platen is provided, on its upper surface, with ashift roller which engages the shift arm as the platen nears itsposition over the magazine, and forces the platen to move laterallyagainst the tension of the spring around the shaft which carries theplaten. This places the platen in a laterally-displaced position inwhich a gripper, carried by the conveyor system of the apparatus, cangrasp the edge of a sheet carried by the platen. At the instant that thegripper grasps the sheet, the vacuum on the vacuum platen is relieved bythe action of the electrical system of the apparatus and the cam and itsassociated shift ar-m permit the platen to return to its normal positionover the magazine by the action of the spring around its shaft.

The apparatus in accordance with this invention has been described andsome of its advantageous features pointed out in the foregoing. Aspecific embodiment of this apparatus will be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters are usedto refer to like parts wherever they may occur.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic, exploded, perspective view of the magazine forthe supply of copy sheets of this apparatus, of its vacuum platen and ofthe vacuum and air pressure supply associated therewith.

Fi'GURE 2 is a second exploded, perspective view of the magazine for thesupply of copy sheets illustrated by FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the vacuum platen and ofits transport mechanism, showing their relationship to the magazine forthe supply of copy sheets illustrated by FIGURES 1 and 2 and to theoptical image plane of the equipment in which this apparatus is used.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the quarter gear on thetop of the vacuum platen, and of the mechanism by which the vacuumplaten is held in a horizontal plane as it is passed over the coronadischarge unit in a photoelectrostatic reproduction unit.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view, showing the copy-carrierplate of the copy-supply magazine pulled out of the light-tightenclosure or cabinet in which this apparatus is located.

FIGURE 6 is an electrical wiring diagram of the electrical circuits forthe operation of the apparatus.

The copy-supply magazine of this apparatus is desirably located directlyadjacent an opening in a vertical wall in the light-tight enclosure orcabinet in which this apparatus is housed, with a closure by which theopening can be rendered light tight. As illustrated by FIGURE 5, thisclosure may be in the form of a panel 98 attached to the outer end ofthe telescoping rails 42, 42. The telescoping rails 42, 42 permit thecopy sheet carrier plate 34 with its guide walls 35', 36, 37 and 38 tobe pulled out of the cabinet in which the apparatus is located, as shownby FIGURE 5, to permit a stack of copy sheets to be placed on thecarrier plate 34. As already noted hereinbefore, when the carrier plate34 is moved outwardly from its normal operating position to a positionsuch as that ii lustrated by FIGURE 5, the limit switch 48 opens,preventing the copy-supply magazine from operating.

FIGURE 1 illustrates the copy sheet supply magazine of this apparatusand its air pressure supply, from the pressure side of the vacuum pump,which provides the vacuum for the operation of the vacuum platen of theapparatus. Referring specifically to that figure, it will be seen thatthis copy sheet supply magazine is provided with a base plate whichcarries two pairs of journals, not shown by the drawing, which carry theaxles 11 and 12. The axle 11 carries toggle arms 13 and 14 attached toits ends, while axle .12 carries the toggle arms 15 and 16 attached toits ends. The lower ends of toggle arms 14 and 16 are connected throughswivel joints 17, 17 to the rod 18. The swivel joints 17, 17 and the rod18 are shown by FIG- URE 2. The upper ends of the toggle arms 13, 14, 15and 16 each carry a roller 19.

The base plate 10 has the air cylinder 20' attached to its edge. Thepiston rod 21 of the air cylinder 20 is attached to the lower end of thetoggle arms 15 by a swivel 22. As air under pressure is supplied to theair cylinder 20, forcing its piston rod 21 outwardly, the top of thetoggle arm 15 moves in the reverse direction and on an upwardly-curvedpath, due to the angulation of the toggle arm. The rigid attachment ofthe toggle arms 14 and 16 to the ends of the axle 12, the linkage of thelower ends of the toggle arms 16 and 14 and the connecting rod 18, andthe rigid attachment of the toggle arms 14 and 13 to the ends of theaxle 11 causes the upper ends of the toggle arms 13, 14, 15, and 16 andthe rollers 19, 19, which they carry, to move in synchronism as thelower end of the toggle arm is moved by the air cylinder 20. Theatmospheric-pressure side of the air cylinder 20 is provided with athrottling valve 23, by which the rate of the exhaust and intake of airon that side of the cylinder can be regulated.

Still referring to FIGURE 1, the air cylinder 21) is connected to andsupplied with air through a tube 24 which is connected to the pressureside of the vacuum pump 25. The tube 24 is provided with a solenoidvalve 26 which, when opened, permits the air to be exhausted from thetube 24. The tube 24 is also provided with a filter 27 and a pressurerelief valve 28 to insure against excessive pressure build-up in thetube 24 and the air cylinder 20.

The vacuum side of the pump is connected through the flexible tube 29 tothe vacuum platen 30 of the apparatus, which is shown schematically. Thetube 29 is provided with a pressure-sensitive solenoid switch 31 which,in open position, permits the pump 25 to draw air from the vacuum platen30. The tube 29 is also provided with a filter 32 and a pressure-reliefvalve 33.

The four rollers 19, 19 on the upper ends of the toggle arms 13, 14, .15and 16 carry the copy sheet carrier plate 34 of the copy sheet magazine.The carrier plate 34 has four guide walls 35, 36, 37 and 38. The guidewall 37 is made of an insulating material such as, for example, aphenol-formaldehyde plastic.

As best shown by FIGURE 2, the parallel bars 39, 39 extend forwardlyfrom the bottom of one side of the carrier plate 34. These bars eachcarry a perforation 40, 40. The outer sections 41, 41 of the telescopingrails 42, 42 have the cross-bar 43 extending across between them andattaching them together. The cross-bar 43 carries the two vertical pins44, 44 which are positioned to extend upwardly through the perforations40, 40 with a sliding fit. One of the rails 41, 41 carries a limitswitch 45 which is held in closed position When the carrier plate 34 isresting on the rollers 19, 19 in its initial position of rest.

Each of the telescoping rails 42, 42 consists of, in addition to therails 41, 41, a pair of telescoping rails of the type frequently used tocarry the drawers of office filing cabinets. These pairs of rails areprovided with rollers which enable them to telescope smoothly. Theinnermost rail of each pair is attached to the frame of the cabinet 6 46in which the apparatus is enclosed. The rails 41, 41 are each providedwith a pair of rollers 47, 47, which enable the rails 41, 41 to beextended with respect to the movable rail of the innermost pair oftelescoping rails.

The limit switch 48 is attached to the frame of the apparatus in aposition such that is closed when the rails 42, 42 are fully telescoped,and the carrier plate 34 is in its operating position with respect tothe rollers 19, 19 and the vacuum platen 30. When the plate 34 is movedoutwardly from its normal operating position, this limit switch 48opens. The copy supply magazine cannot operate when this limit switch 48is open.

The bottom of the carrier plate 34 is provided with a second set ofparallel bars 49, 50. These bars are positloned directly adjacent to theouter sections 41, 41 of the telescoping rails 42, 42 and insure thatthe carrier plate is in exact lateral alignment after being raised bythe rollers 19, 19. The pins 44, 44 cooperate with the bars 49, 50 inthis function.

The bar 49 carries an adjustable screw 51, which acts as the physicalcontact point which activates the limit switch 45. This screw provides aconvenient adjustment to assure the proper functioning of the limitswitch 45.

When in their fully-telescoped position, the rails 42, 42 position thecarrier plate 34 in its operating position under the vacuum platen 30are supported by the rollers 19, 19 and keep the limit switch 48 closedso that it is ready for operation by the electrical system of theapparatus to supply a copy sheet to the vacuum platen 30. When thecarrier plate 34 is raised by the action of the air cylinder 20, uponactivation by the electrical system of the apparatus, to deliver a copysheet to the vacuum platen 30, its upwardly movement isguided by thepins 44, 44. Further, the pins 44, 44 guide the carrier plate 34 as thedrawer 52, illustrated by FIGURE 5, is opened to form the bottom of thatdrawer.

The vacuum platen 30 is provided with a plurality of orifices in itslower surface which are located near each of its edges, not shown by thedrawings, which extend to an internal air space in the platen, which isconnected through tube 29 to the vacuum side of the vacuum pump 25,FIGURE 1. At the beginning of a cycle in which a copy is made by theapparatus, vacuum is supplied to the vacuum platen 30 by the opening ofthe solenoid valve 26. This vacuum retains the upper sheet of a stack ofsheets on the lower surface of the vacuum platen 30, when the sheet israised into contact therewith by the action of the copy sheet supplymagazine.

The use of air pressure to raise the carrier plate 34 is advantageous inproviding an automatic compensation for the variation in the height of astack of copy sheets which it carries. The upward movement of the plateis automatically stopped by the forceful contact of the upper sheet ofthe stack of sheets with the vacuum platen 30. The pressure which isexerted upon such contact is determined by the air pressure in thecylinder 20, rather than by the distance that the plate 34 has beenraised.

The carrier plate 34 returns under its own weight and the weight of thestack of copy sheets which it carries, when the air pressure within thecylinder 20 is released by the action of the solenoid valve 26. Therapidity with which the carrier plate drops back to its position of restis determined by the adjustment of the throttling valve 23 on theatmospheric side of the piston of the cylinder 20. As already noted,upon returning to its position of rest, the carrier plate 34 activatesthe limit switch 45. The tripping of this limit switch starts theoperation of the transport mechanism of the apparatus to move the vacuumplaten 30 through the successive positions in which it carries a copysheet into the optical plane of the apparatus to expose it to an opticalimage to produce a latent image on its surface, returns it to a positionin which the sheet is picked up by the conveyor system of the apparatusand, finally, returns it to its initial position in which it is ready torepeat the cycle. This transport mechanism and the detailed constructionof a preferred embodiment of the vacuum platen 30 will be describedhereinafter with reference to FIG- URE 3.

In the event that the supply of copy sheets on the carrier plate 34 isexhausted or, for some other reason, the vacuum platen does not pick upa copy sheet from the carrier plate 34, no vacuum is developed in thevacuum line 29. This failure to develop a vacuum in the line 29 leavesthe pressure-sensitive switch 31 in its open position. This switch 31must be closed to permit the apparatus to proceed to the next step ofits automatic cycle, i.e. the movement of the vacuum platen by itstransport mechanism, etc. Therefore, the automatic cycle of theapparatus is stopped. The vacuum pump 25 continues to operate, suckingair through the orifices in the lower surface of the vacuum platen 30.The passage of air into these orifices creates an audible whistlingsound which informs the operator as to the cause of the failure of theapparatus to proceed with its automatic cycle, and advises him that thesupply of copy sheets on the plate 34 must be replenished.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 3, it will be seen that the vacuumplaten 30 has attached to its upper surface an axle 52, which is carriedby journals 53, 53 of the carrier plate 54. The vacuum platen 30 issmaller in area than the area of the plate 34 of the copy supplymagazine defined by its guide walls 35, 36, 37 and 38, and smaller indimension that the sheet with which it is intended to carry. Thus, forexample, the copy sheet may extend one inch beyond each edge of thevacuum platen when being transported thereby. In any event, the copysheet must extend beyond the edge adjacent the guide wall 37 to permitit to be picked up by the conveyor system of the apparatus, as describedhereinafter.

One end of the axle 52 carries a quarter gear 55, while the other end isloaded by the spring 56, the tension of which tends to retain the platenin its normal position in relation to the carrier plate 54. The quartergear 55 has its lower flat face attached to the upper surface of thevacuum platen 30. This attachment of the quarter gear 55 to the vacuumplaten is the sole support of the vacuum platen. The carrier plate 54has a pair of journals 57, 57 on its upper surface, which are slideablymounted on the cylindrical guide rod 58. The guide rod 58 serves both tosupport one side of the carrier plate 54 and to guide it along a fixedline of travel. The other side of the carrier plate 54- is attached tothe vertical plate 59, the upper end of which carries a roller 60 whichis supported by the horizontal rod 61, which is parallel to the rod 58and has a flat upper surface in a horizontal plane over which the roller60 is free to move. The rod 61 is attached to the frame of the apparatusin a firmlyfixed position. The parallel rods 58 and 61 extendlongitudinally from a position above the copy sheet supply magazine,FIGURE 1, to a position adjacent the optical image of the equipment ofwhich this apparatus forms an assented component. The upper surface ofthe carrier plate 54 has afiixed thereto a cross-slide plate 62 whichcarries a pawl 63 in a slot 64, in which the pawl 63 is free to movealong a path which is at right angles to the lengths of the parallelrods 58 and 61.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 4, it will be seen that the quartergear 55 carries a roller 65 on its s de which is laterally displacedfrom the center of rotatlon of the quarter gear 55 and the axle 52 in aforwardly direction, i.e. in a direction toward the optical image planeof the apparatus. The roller 65 rides on the lower surface of the rod66, which is in a horizontal plane, to a position near its end sectionadjacent the optical image plane and is fixed in a stationary positionto the frame 67 by the rods 68 and 69. End section 7%) of the rod 66 iscurved upwardly. The length of this rod 66 is parallel to thecylindrical guide rod 58. The contact of the roller 65 with thehorizontal lower surface of the rod 66 keeps the vacuum platen fromtilting with a dropping of its backwardly edge. This is one of twoelements which retain the lower surface of the vacuum platen 30 in ahorizontal plane during its travel to the location at which it isrotated through a ninety degree angle to bring the lower surface into anoptical image plane. The second of these two elements is the set screw71, which extends through the carrier plate 54 near its backwardly edge.The lower end of this set screw bears on the upper surface of the vacuumplaten 30 is adjustable to position the lower surface of the vacuumplaten 30 in a horizontal plane and, when in contact with the uppersurface of the vacuum platen, prevents its forwardly edge from tiltingdownwardly.

The end of the guide rod 58 is attached at its backwardly end to plate72, and at its forwardly end to the plate 73 which is in a verticalplane adjacent the optical image plane of the apparatus. The plates 72and 73 are both rigidly attached to the frame of the apparatus. Theplate 7 3 carries a rack 74 which extends horizontally from its surfaceand is positioned to engage the gear 55 as the vacuum platen is movedalong the rods 58 and 61 to the proximity of the plate 73. Upon engagingthe gear 55, the rack 74 causes the vacuum platen 30 to rotate throughan angle of ninety degrees to place the surface of a copy sheet carriedon its lower surface in the vertical optical image plane of theapparatus. As the vacuum platen 30 reaches the point at which itsrotation is started, by the engagement of the rack 74 with the quartergear 55, the roller rides upwardly along the curved section of thesection 70 of the rod 66 and off of the end of that red and, therefore,does not interfere with the rotation of the vacuum platen.

The motor plate 75 is located in a parallel plane directly above therods 58 and 61. It is shown in an exploded position by FIGURE 3 topermit the detail of the lower parts of the unit to be shown. The motorplate 75 has an electric motor 76 and a speed reducer 77 attached to itsupper surface. The electric motor 76 is adapted to drive the speedreducer 77 by the chain 78 carried by the motor sprocket 79 and thespeed reducer sprocket 80. The speed reducer 77 drives a shaft 81, whichextends downwardly through the plate 75 and carries the sprocket 82 onits lower end. The plate 75 carries a bearing 83 in which a seconddownwardly extending shaft 84 is free to rotate. The shaft 84 carries,on its lower end, the sprocket 85 which is in the same parallel plane asthe sprocket 82. The shafts 8 1 and 84 are spaced apart along a linewhich parallels the rods 58 and 61.

The sprockets 32 and 85 carry a sprocket chain 86 to which the pawl 63is attached. As the chain 86 passes around the sprockets 82 and 85, thepawl 63 moves backand-forth in the slot 64, and moves the carrier plate54 back-and-forth along the rods 58 and 61. The positions of the shafts81 and 84 are such that the carrier plate 54 transports the vacuum laten30 back-and-forth, beginning from a position in which the vacuum platenis centered above the position to which the copy sheet carrier plate 34of the copy supply magazine rises in its action to bring the top sheetof a stack of copy sheets into contact with the platen, to a position inwhich the vacuum platens lower surface has been turned into the opticalimage plane of the apparatus.

The limit switch 87, carried by the frame of the apparatus, is locatedat, and activated by, the rearwardly edge of the carrier plate 54 whenthe carrier plate is in its initial position, and is in a closedposition when the carrier plate 54 is in that position. The limit switch88 is located at the forwardly end of the line of travel of the carrierplate 54, and is closed by contact with the forwardly surface of thecarrier plate when it comes into the optical image plane of theapparatus. As will be explained hereinafter, these limit switches forman essential part of the electrical control of the apparatus.

The mot-or plate 75 carries a second electric motor 89 which is providedwith a speed reducer 90, and a shaft 91 which extends downwardly fromthe speed reducer 90, to a location below the level of the edge of themotor plate 75, and upwardly above the speed reducer. The lower end ofthe shaft 91 carries a cam 92 which bears on the free end of the shiftarm 93, which is pivotal-1y attached to the edge of the motor plate 75and spring loaded so that its free end always bears on the peripheralsurface of the cam 92. The free end of the shift arm 93 is movedlaterally back-and-forth by the rotation of the cam 92.

The upper end of the shaft 91 carries the cam 94. The limit switch 95 isattached to the frame of the apparatus, in a position such that the endof its activating arm 96 bears on the cam 94. The periphery of the cam94 is such that the limit switch 95 is tripped each half-rotation of thecam at the point of rotation of the shaft 91 at which the shift arm 93is in its fully-extended position, and then at which the shift arm is inits position of rest. As will be fully explained hereinafter, the limitswitch 95 is an essential component of the electrical system of theapparatus which controls and times the operation of the cam motor 89 andthe movement of the shift arm 93.

After the vacuum platen 30 has been moved into the optical image planeof the apparatus and started its return from that position, the cam 92under the control of the electrical control system of the apparatusmoves the free end of the shift arm 93 outwardly, and places its outeredge in a diagonal position across the line of travel of the platen 30as the carrier plate 54 returns to its original position. The vacuumplaten 30 carries, on its upper surface, a shift roller 97 which islocated in a position such that it engages the diagonal surface of theshift arm 93, as the vacuum platen 30 is moved toward its initialposition, and causes the vacuum platen to move laterally against thetension of the spring 56 around its shaft 52, and to be in itsfully-displaced position when the carrier plate 54 reaches its initialposition.

This lateral displacement of the vacuum platen 30 places the edge of asheet which it carries in position to be grasped by a gripper of asecond transport system of the equipment. At the instant that a gripperof the second transport mechanism of the equipment grasps a copy sheetcarried by the vacuum platen, the vacuum supplied to the vacuum platenis shut off by the action of the solenoid switch 31, shown by FIGURE 1.After a sheet has been removed from the surface of the vacuum platen bya gripper of the second transport system of the apparatus, the cam 92 isrotated under the action of the electrical control system of theapparatus to cause the shift arm 93 to move inwardly, permitting thevacuum platen to move laterally under the action of the spring 56 to itsnormal initial position over the copy supply magazine of the apparatus.The vacuum platen 30 is then in position to receive another copy sheetfrom the copy sheet supply magazine.

The electrical wiring diagram shown by FIGURE 6 is schematic in that itdoes not show details of the automatic control circuits which are fullyillustrated and described in our copending application Ser. No. 189,758,filed Apr. 24, 1962, to which reference has been made hereinbefore.Referring specifically to FIGURE 6, it will be seen that the mechanismof this invention is connected to a suitable source of alternatingelectrical current which may be, for example, a 60-volt supply by thelines 100 and 101. As illustrated, the line 100 is connected to aterminal of the automatic control circuits which are designatedgenerally by the numeral 102.

The other side of the alternating electrical current through the line101 is connected to one terminal each of the motor of the vacuum pump25, the solenoid valve 26, the electric motor 76 and the electric motor89'. The second terminals of the motor of the vacuum pump 25, thesolenoid valve 26 and the electric motor 76 are connected directly tothe automatic control circuits designated generally by the numeral 102.The second terminal of the motor 89 is connected to one terminal of theswitch 95, which has two alternative terminals 103 asd 104 connected tothe automatic control circuits 102.

The starting switch 105 for this apparatus and the limit switch 48 areconnected in series with the automatic control circuits 102. The limitswitch 48 is in its closed position when the copy sheet supplymagazineis in its initial operating position and as noted hereinbefore, themechanism cannot operate when this switch is open. The closing of thestarting switch 105 when the limit switch 48 is in closed position.

When both of the switches 105 and 48 are closed, the automatic controlcircuits of the apparatus activates the vacuum pump 25 of the apparatuscausing it to draw air from the vacuum platen 30 and furnish air underpressure to the air cylinder 20 which raises the carrier plate 34 tobring a copy sheet into contact with the vacuum :platen 30.

Upon contact between .a copy sheet and the vacuum platen 30, the airpressure in the cylinder 20 is released, permitting the carrier plate 34to drop to its initial position of rest. Upon dropping to its restposition, the carrier plate 34 closes the limit switch 45, activatingthe transport motor 76 to move the vacuum platen 30 forwardly over acorona discharge unit to a terminal position in which it is rotatedthrough an angle of ninety degrees to place the copy sheet in the focalplane of an optical system adapted to transmit an optical image to thesurface of the sheet.

Upon arriving at a vertical position in the focal plane of the opticalsystem of the equipment, the limit switch 88 is closed by the forwardlytravel of the carrier plate 54. This closing of the limit switch 88stops the operation of the electric motor 76 to permit the vacuum platen30 to remain at rest in a vertical position for a brief interval of timewhile the copy sheet is exposed to an optical image. At the end of theexposure period, the automatic control circuits 102 of the apparatusreactivates the motor 76 to move the vacuum platen on its backwardlypath of travel. The control circuits 102 have now turned off the coronadischarge, but are continuing the operation of the vacuum pump 25.

As the vacuum platen moves backwardly to its initial position of restunder the action of the automatic control circuits 102 of the apparatus,those control circuits also activate the cam motor 89 to cause it toclose the switch which keeps the motor 89 in operation until the shiftarm 93 is moved outwardly to bear on the shift roller 97 forcing thevacuum platen 30 to move to a laterally shifted position as it is movedbackwardly by the transport motor 76. When the shift arm 93 reaches itslaterally extended position, the switch 95 is reversed causing theautomatic control circuit to stop the cam motor 89. The lateraldisplacement of the vacuum platen 30 places a laterally extending edgeof the copy sheet now carrying an electrostatic image to be picked up bya cooperating mechanism for further automatic processing.

Upon reaching its backwardly position in its laterally shifted position,the vacuum platen carrier plate 54 closes the limit switch 87, stops thetransport motor 76 by the action of the automatic control circuits 102and at the same time de-energizes the motor of vacuum pump 25. Theresulting lateral displacement of the vacuum platen 30 and thesimultaneous release of the vacuum hold the copy sheet on the vacuumplaten, places the sheet in a position to be picked up by anothertransport mechanism for further processing.

After the exposed copy sheet is removed from the vacuum platen, theautomatic control circuit starts the cam motor 89 causing both areversal of the switch 95 which keeps the motor 89 in operation untilthe shift arm 93 is withdrawn to its retracted position. The retractionof the shift arm 93 which has been holding the vacuum platen 30 in alaterally displaced position permits the platen to return to itsoriginal operating position by the action of the spring 224. At thispoint the apparatus is in condition for another cycle of operation.

In this specification, many details and specific illustrations have beengiven concerning the apparatus of this invention. It will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art that many variations can be made inthe details of the apparatus without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the claims which follow.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for the reproduction of original copy, the combinationof a copy sheet supply magazine and a vacuum platen adapted to pick up acopy sheet and to place it in an optical image plane, which comprises;

a vacuum platen having a plane lower surface, an interior chamber, and aplurality of perforations extending from its lower surface into the saidinterior chamber;

a transport means for moving the vacuum platen in a horizontal plane;

a vacuum pump;

a flexible conduit connecting the vacuum side of the said vacuum pump tothe interior chamber of the vacuum platen;

a copy sheet supply magazine positioned beneath the initial position ofrest of the vacuum platen, comprising an upper plate adapted to carry onits upper surface a stack of copy sheet, a mechanical means for raisingthe said plate to bring the upper sheet of the said stack into contactwith the lower surface of the said vacuum platen, and an air cylinderhaving its piston mechanically connected to the said means to supplyforce for raising the said plate, which brings the top sheet of a stackof copy sheets into contact with the vacuum platen with a force whichremains constant with variations in the height of the stack of copysheets, and then permitting the upper plate to drop back to its positionof rest;

and a conduit connecting the pressure side of the said vacuum pump tothe pressure side of the said air cylinder.

-2. In apparatus for the reproduction of original copy, the combinationof a copy sheet supply magazine and a vacuum platen adapted to pick up acopy sheet and to place it in an optical image plane, which comprises;

a vacuum platen having a plane lower surface, an interior chamber, and aplurality of perforations extending from its lower surface into the saidinterior chamber;

a transport means for moving the vacuum platen in a horizontal plane;

a vacuum pump;

a flexible conduit connecting the vacuum side of the said vacuum pump tothe interior chamber of the vacuum platen;

a copy sheet supply magazine positioned beneath the initial position ofrest of the vacuum platen, comprising an upper plate adapted to carry onits upper surface a stack of copy sheets, a mechanical means for raisingthe said plate to bring the upper sheet of the said stack into contactwith the lower surface of the said vacuum platen, and an air cylinderhaving its piston mechanically connected to the said means to supplyforce for raising the said plate, which brings the top sheet of a stackof copy sheets into contact with the vacuum platen with a force whichremains constant with variations in the height of the stack of copysheets, when its pressure side is supplied with compressed air, and athrottling valve which controls the intake of air to theatmosphericpressure side of the air cylinder, by which the rate at whichthe upper plate drops under the force of gravity is controlled, afterthe air pressure on the pressure side of the air cylinder is released;

and a conduit connecting the pressure side of the said vacuum pump tothe pressure side of the said air cylinder.

In apparatus for the reproduction of original copy,

vacuum platen having a plane lower surface, an interior chamber, and aplurality of perforations extending from its lower surface into the saidinterior chamber;

a transport means for moving the vacuum platen in a horizontal plane;

a vacuum pump;

flexible conduit connecting the vacuum side of the said vacuum pump tothe interior chamber of the vacuum platen;

a pressure-sensitive, solenoid valve in the said vacuum conduit, and anassociated electrical control system which permits the said transportmeans to move the said vacuum platen only when the vacuum platen carriesa vacuum, as a result of the sealing of the perforations on its lowersurface by a copy sheet thereon; copy sheet supply magazine positionedbeneath the initial position of rest of the vacuum platen, comprising anupper plate adapted to carry on its upper surface a stack of copysheets, a mechanical means for raising the said plate to bring the uppersheet of the said stack into contact with the lower surface of the saidvacuum platen, and an air cylinder having its piston mechanicallyconnected to the said means to supply force for raising the said plate,which brings the top sheet of a stack of copy sheets into contact withthe vacuum platen with a force which remains constant with variations inthe height of the stack of copy sheets, and then permitting the upperplate to drop back to its position of rest;

a conduit connecting the pressure side of the said vacuum pump to thepressure side of the said air cylinder;

and a solenoid valve in the said pressure conduit which,

the combination of a copy sheet supply magazine and a vacuum platenadapted to pick up a copy sheet and place it in an optical image plane,which comprises;

a vacuum platen having a plane lower surface, an interior chamber, aplurality of perforations extending from its lower surface into the saidinterior chamber, and a flexible conduit connecting the said interiorchamber with a source of vacuum;

a means for moving the vacuum platen in a horizontal plane;

copy sheet supply magazine positioned beneath the initial position ofrest of the vacuum platen, comprising an upper plate adapted to carry onits upper surface a stack of copy sheets, and a means for raising thesaid plate to bring the upper sheet of the said stack into contact withthe lower surface of the said vacuum platen, which copy sheet supplymechanism comprises;

four toggle arms which are attached in pairs at the ends of a pair ofaxles, with a section extending upwardly at an angle, and at least threeof which each have a section extending downwardly;

a connecting rod, connected by swivel joints to the lower ends of atoggle arm of each of the said pairs;

an air cylinder having its piston rod connected by a swivel joint to thelower end of a toggle arm on the opposite end of an axle which carriesone vacuum platen adapted to pick up a copy sheet and place it in anoptical image plane, which comprises;

a vacuum platen having a plane lower surface, an interior chamber, aplurality of perforations extending from its lower surface into the saidinterior chamber, and a flexible conduit connecting the said interiorchamber with a source of vacuum;

a means for removing the vacuum platen in a horizontal plane;

a copy sheet suply magazine positioned beneath the iniof the togglearms, the lower end of which is connected by the said connecting rod,the said air cylinder, upon being supplied with compressed air, beingadapted to move the lower end of the toggle arm to which it is connectedand, thereby, cause the upper ends of the four toggle arms to move insynchronism in an upwardly-arcuate path, and to move along the reversepath of travel when the air cylinder is relieved of its supply ofcompressed air;

the upper plate to move upwardly from the said telescoping arms anddownwardly to come to rest on them;

the said telescoping arms being adapted, upon being extended, to carrythe upper plate outwardly from a position above the said toggle armswhile being guided by the said upwardly-extending rods.

6. An apparatus for the reproduction of original copy, the combinationof a copy sheet supply magazine and a a plate adapted to retain on itsupper surface a tial position of rest of the vacuum platen, comprisingstack of copy sheets carried by the upper ends an upper plate adapted tocarry on its upper surface a of the said toggle arms, which movesupwardly stack of copy sheets, and a means for raising the said along avertical path when the upper ends of the plate to bring the upper sheetof the said stack into said toggle arms are forced by the action of thecontact with the lower surface of the said vacuum compressed aircylinder to move along the said platen, which copy sheet supplymechanism comupwardly-arcuate path of travel, and to drop prises;downwardly along a vertical path when the upper a compressed aircylinder; ends of the toggle arms move along the reverse four togglearms mechanically attached to the pisarcuate path of travel. ton of thecompressed air cylinder, the upper 5. In apparatus for the reproductionof original copy, ends of which are moved in an upwardly-arcuate thecombination of a copy sheet supply magazine and a path when thecompressed air cylinder is supvacuum platen adapted to pick up a copysheet and place plied with compressed air, and along the reverse it inan optical image plane, which comprises; path of travel when the aircylinder is relieved of a vacuum platen having a plane lower surface, aninits supply 0f co pressed air;

terior chamber, an upper plate carried by the upper ends of said aplurality of perforations extending from its lower surtoggle arms, whichis adapted to retain on its face into the said interior chamber, and aflexible upper surface a stack of copy sheets; conduit connecting thesaid interior chamber with a pair of telescoping arms, each of which hasat a source of vacuum; least two sections, the inner sections of whichare a means for moving the vacuum platen in a horizontal attached to arigid pp and the Outer Sections plane; of which are in contact with thelower surface a copy sheet supply magazine positioned beneath the of thesaid upper plate when the plate is in its initial position of rest ofthe vacuum platen, comlowered position, and are attached together nearprising an upper plate adapted to carry on its upper their inner ends bya horizontal plate, which has surface a stack of copy sheets, and ameans for raistWO upwardly-eXtehding Pods afiiXed to its pp r ing thesaid plate to bring the upper sheet of the said Surface and Spaced aparton that Surface;

stack into contact with the lower surface of the said a P of hatsattached to the lower Surface f t acuum platen, which copy sheet supplymechanism upper plate which extend beyond the inner edge comprises; ofthe said plate, and carry perforations which a compressed air cylinder;are adapted to receive the said upwardly-extendfour toggle armsmechanically attached to the pising d With a id ng fit, Which permitsthe ton of the compressed air cylinder, the upper upper plate to moveupwardly from the said teleends of which are moved in anupwardly-arcuate scoping arms and downwardly to come to res path whenthe compressed air cylinder is supon them; plied with compressed air,and along the reverse the said telescoping arms being adapted, uponbepath of travel when the air cylinder is relieved of g extended, to ythe pp r pl outw rd y its supply of compressed air; from a positionabove the said toggle arms while an upper plate carried by the upperends of said eing guided by the said upwardly-extending toggle arms,which is adapted to retain on its Tods; upper surface a stack of copysheets; a limit switch positioned adjacent the position of a pair oftelescoping arms, each of Which has at the inner g of the upper platewhen in its opleast two sections, th i er e tio f hi h crating position,which is held in aclosed position are attached to a rigid su ort, a dthe Quter when the upper plate is in that position, which sections ofwhich are in contact with the lower p s h n th p ate i mov d outwardlyby the surface of the said upper plate when the plate is eXteIlSiOn fthe t esc ping arms, and which in its lowered position, and are attachedtogether P s th Operation of the Said air cylinder near their inner endsby a horizontal plate, which When in p Position; has twoupwardly-extending rods afiixed t it and a second limit switchpositioned adjacent the upper surface and spaced apart on that surface;lower Surface of the pp Plate, in a location and a pair of bars attachedto the lower surface of to he held Closed y the Plate when it is in itsthe upper plate which extend beyond the inner lowered Position, and tohe Opened When the edge of the said plate, and carry perforations Plateis raised y the action of the Said air y which are adapted to receivethe said upwardlyihdel' which, when in p Position, Prevents theextending rods with a sliding fit, which permits Operation of the meansfor moving the Vacuum platen in a horizontal plane.

7. In an apparatus for the reproduction of original copy, a vacuumplaten and an associated transport mechanism which is adapted to pick upa copy sheet from a stack of such sheets, carry the said sheet in ahorizontal plane, position the surface of the said sheet in a verticalplane, and then return the sheet to a position laterally displaced fromthe location in which it was originally picked up from which the sheetcan be removed for further processing, which comprises in combination;

a vacuum platen having a fiat, lower working surface,

an interior chamber, a plurality of perforations extending from itslower surface into the said interior chamber, and a flexible conduitconnecting the said interior chamber with a source of vacuum;

a pair of parallel carrier rods positioned in a horizontal plane;

a carrier plate, slideably mounted on one of the said rods and supportedby a roller on the upper surface of the other of said rods;

an axle attached to the said vacuum platen positioned transversely ofthe said carrier rods, and slideably mounted on the lower side of thecarrier plate;

a gear attached to one end of the said axle;

a rack positioned adjacent the end section of one of the said carrierrods, opposite the ends of the rod adjacent the initial position of thesaid vacuum platen, and adapted to engage the said gear as the carrierplate is moved toward that end of the carrier rod, to cause the vacuumplaten to rotate through an angle of ninety degrees to place its workingface in a vertical plane facing away from the remainder of the saidcombination;

a combination of means which retain the vacuum platen in a position inwhich its lower and working surface is in a horizontal plane prior tothe engagement of the said gear with the said rack, and which do notinterfere with the rotation of the said platen through an angle ofninety degrees to place its working surface in a vertical plane;

and means for causing the said carrier plate to move back-and-forthalong the said carrier rods.

8. In apparatus for the reproduction of original copy, a vacuum platenand an associated transport mechanism which is adapted to pick up a copysheet from a stack of such sheets, carry the said sheet in a horizontalplane, position the said sheet in a vertical plane, and then return thesheet to a position laterally displaced from the position in which itwas originally picked up from which the sheet can be removed for furtherprocessing, which comprises in combination;

a vacuum platen having a flat, lower working surface,

an interior chamber, a plurality of perforations extending from itslower surface into the said interior chamber, and a flexible conduitconnecting the said interior chamber to a source of vacuum;

a pair of parallel carrier rods positioned in a horizontal plane;

a carrier plate, slideably mounted on one of the said rods and supportedby a roller on the upper surface of the other of the said rods;

an axle attached to the said vacuum platen, positioned transversely ofthe said carrier rods, and slideably mounted on the lower side of thecarrier plate;

a gear attached to one end of the said axle;

a rack positioned adjacent the end section of one of the said carrierrods, opposite the end of the rod adjacent the initial position of thesaid vacuum platen, and adapted to engage the said gear as the carrierplate is moved toward that end of the carrier rod, to cause the vacuumplaten to rotate through an angle of ninety degrees to place its workingface in a vertical plane facing away from the said combination;

a combination of means to retain the vacuum platen in a position inwhich its lower and working face is in a horizontal plane prior to theengagement of the said gear with the said rack, and which do notinterfere with the rotation of the said platen through an angle ofninety degrees to place its working surface in a vertical plane;

a horizontal motor plate positioned above the said carrier rods;

an electric motor and a reducing gear connected thereto, and positionedon the said motor plate;

a vertical drive shaft attached to the said reducing gear, extendingdownwardly through the said plate, and carrying a sprocket on itslowerends;

a second vertical shaft mounted on the bottom of the said motor plate,and spaced away from the first said vertical shaft along a line parallelto the said carrier rods;

an idler sprocket mounted on the lower end of said second verticalshaft;

a continuous sprocket chain passing around and carried by the saidsprockets;

a cross-slide plate on the top of the said carrier plate carrying apawl, which is free to slide back-and-forth along at right angles to thelength of the said carrier rods, and is attached to the outside of thesprocket the carrier plate is moved, first in one direction and then inthe other direction, along the said slide rods.

9. In apparatus for the reproduction of original copy, the combinationof a vacuum platen and an associated transport mechanism described byclaim '8, in which the transport mechanism includes the combination of;

a limit switch which is positioned to be closed by contact with thevacuum platen carrier plate, when the working face of the vacuum platenhas been placed in a vertical plane;

an automatic, electrical-control system, including an electric timerconnected to the said limit switch and to the electric motor which movesthe vacuum platen back-and-forth which, upon activation by the closingof the said limit switch, stops the said electric motor and causes thevacuum platen to stop its movement with its working face in the verticalplane, to

retain the vacuum platen in that position for a preset period of timecontrolled by the electric timer, and then to start the electric motorto move the vacuum platens working face out of the said vertical planeand in a backwardly direction toward its initial position;

and a second limit switch, which is positioned to be closed by contactwith the vacuum platen carrier plate when it reaches its original andbackwardly position, and connected to said automatic control systemwhich, upon being closed, stops the said electric motor and the movementof the vacuum platen, and stops vacuum to the vacuum platen.

10. In apparatus for the reproduction of original copy,

a vacuum platen and an associatcd transport mechanism which is adaptedot pick up a copy sheet from a stack of such sheets, carry the saidsheet in a horizontal plane, position the said sheet in a verticalplane, and then return the sheet to a position laterally displaced fromthe position in which it was originally picked up from which the sheetcan be removed for further processing, which comprises in combination;

a vacuum platen having a flat, lower working surface,

an interior chamber, a plurality of perforations eX- tending from itslower surface into the said interior chamber, and a flexible conduitconnecting the said interior chamber to a source of vacuum;

a pair of parallel carrier rods, positioned in a horizontal plane;

a carrier plate, slideably mounted on one of the said rods and supportedby a roller on the upper surface of the other of the said rods;

an axle attached to the said vacuum platen, positioned transversely ofthe said carrier rods, and slideably mounted on the lower side of thecarrier plate;

a gear attached to one end of the said axle;

a rack positioned adjacent the end section of one of the said carrierrods, opposite the end of the rod adjacent the initial position of thesaid vacuum platen, and adapted to engage the said gear as the carrierplate is moved toward that end of the carrier rod, to cause the vacuumplaten to rotate through an angle of ninety degrees to place its workingface in a vertical plane facing away from the remainder of the saidcombination;

a combination of means to retain the vacuum platen in a position inwhich its lower and working face is in a horizontal plane prior to theengagement of the said gear with the said rack, and which do notinterfere with the rotation of the said platen through an angle ofninety degrees to place its Working face in a vertical plane;

a coil spring mounted on the said axle, and attached thereto so that itstension is directed to holding the axle in its normal position 'withrespect to the said carrier plate;

a horizontal motor plate;

a shift roller extending upwardly from the top of the said carrierplate;

means carried by said motor plate including an electric motor which isadapted to move the said carrier plate back-and-forth along the saidcarrier rods;

a second electric motor mounted on the said motor plate, which isconnected to a vertical shaft which extends downwardly below the saidmotor plate;

a cam on the said shaft;

and a shift arm attached to the motor plate by a hinge at one end, andbearing on the said cam so that its free end is moved away from the edgeof the plate by the rotation of the cam to bear on the said shift rolleras the carrier plate is moved toward its initial position, to cause thesaid carrier plate to move in 18 a direction at right angles to thelength of the said carrier rods, against the tension of the coil springaround the axle of the vacuum platen. 11. In apparatus for thereproduction of original copy,

the combination of a vacuum platen and an associated transport mechanismdescribed by claim 10, in which the transport mechanism includes thecombination of:

a second cam on the vertical shaft of the second electric motor carriedby the said motor plate;

a limit switch positioned adjacent the said cam, having its trip armbearing on the peripheral surface of the said cam;

and an automatic, electrical-control system connected to the said limitswitch;

the said cam having a peripheral surface shaped to trip the said limitswitch when the first cam on the shaft has moved the shift arm to itslaterally-extended position, stopping the said second electric motor,and leaving the shift arm in its fully-extended position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/ 1960 Fowlie 271-31 9/ 1961Cheeseman 271-26 X 3/ 1962 Gutteling 271-28 M.- HENSON WOOD, JR.,Primary Examiner.

30 R. A. SCHACHER, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN APPARATUS FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF ORIGINAL COPY, THE COMBINATIONOF A COPY SHEET SUPPLY MAGAZINE AND A VACUUM PLATEN ADAPTED TO PICK UP ACOPY SHEET AND TO PLACE IT IN AN OPTICAL IMAGE PLANE, WHICH COMPRISES; AVACUUM PLATEN HAVING A PLANE LOWER SURFACE, AN INTERIOR CHAMBER, AND APLURALITY OF PERFORATIONS EXTENDING FROM ITS LOWER SURFACE INTO THE SAIDINTERIOR CHAMBER; A TRANSPORT MEANS FOR MOVING THE VACUUM PLATEN IN AHORIZONTAL PLANE; A VACUUM PUMP; A FLEXIBLE CONDUIT CONNECTING THEVACUUM SIDE OF THE SAID VACUUM PUMP TO THE INTERIOR CHAMBER OF THEVACUUM PLATEN; A COPY SHEET SUPPLY MAGAZINE POSITIONED BENEATH THEINITIAL POSITION OF REST OF THE VACUUM PLATEN, COMPRISING AN UPPER PLATEADAPTED TO CARRY ON ITS UPPER SURFACE A STACK OF COPY SHEET, AMECHANICAL MEANS FOR RAISING THE SAID PLATE TO BRING THE UPPER SHEET OFTHE SAID STACK INTO CONTACT WITH THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE SAID VACUUMPLATEN, AND AN AIR CYLINDER HAVING ITS PISTON MECHANICALLY CONNECTED TOTHE SAID MEANS TO SUPPLY FORCE FOR RAISING THE SAID PLATE, WHICH BRINGSTHE TOP SHEET OF A STACK OF COPY SHEETS INTO CONTACT WITH THE VACUUMPLATEN WITH A FORCE WHICH REMAINS CONSTANT WITH VARIATIONS IN THE HEIGHTOF THE STACK OF COPY SHEETS, AND THEN PERMITTING THE UPPER PLATE TO DROPBACK TO ITS POSITION OF REST; AND A CONDUIT CONNECTING THE PRESSURE SIDEOF THE SAID VACUUM PUMP TO THE PRESSURE SIDE OF THE SAID AIR CYLINDER.